Doctors battling to save F1 legend Michael Schumacher were today still trying to ease him out of his medically-induced coma after it was feared they had given up hope.

The seven-times world champion was still undergoing the long-term process of “waking up” despite claims they had abandoned the attempts.

Schumacher, 45, has been in an artificial coma since his Christmas skiing accident which has left him fighting for life.

But a German magazine quoted “insiders” saying doctors at the University of Grenoble Hospital in France had abandoned the attempts due to “complications”.

But the Formula One hero’s manager Sabine Kehm said after the reports were published the situation was “unchanged.”

Ms.Kehm said: “This phase can take a long time which, much to our regret, can lead to many misinterpretations.”

Schumacher has been receiving round-the-clock care after the French Alps accident which resulted in life-or-death injuries while out skiing with 14-year-old son Mark in Meribel where he owns a chalet.

Earlier today German magazine Focus claimed attempts to slowly revive him had been put on hold last week.

The report came only days after former team-mate Felippe Massa revealed he had visited Schumacher in hospital and spoken to him.

Brazilian Williams driver Massa said: “He was sleeping, and I was very positive because he was normal. He also gave some reactions with the mouth and everything.

“It looked very positive. We need to believe. He’s a very strong man, a great man and I really hope he can wake up and enjoy life again.”

Massa had visited his friend before heading off for F1 testing in Bahrain.

He added: “I was happy to be with him for a long time. I told him everything... about my car, my new team. I told him to wake up many times.”

Doctors announced three weeks ago they were reducing the anaesthetic keeping him under to slowly bring him around.

Massa added:“I was happy to be with him for a long time. I told him everything... about my car, my new team. I told him to wake up many times.”

The latest reports in Germany sparked fears complications had set in, possibly including reduced blood flow, a new infection or signals that the drugs lying in the fatty tissue of his body were not shifting as fast as they would have hoped.

Focus claimed the recovery phase was back on ice and Schumacher was once again medicated to keep him under.

Wife Corinna, 44, with whom he has two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick 14, has remained at his bedside.

Last week French investigators closed the official inquiry into his accident, ruling out any criminal wrongdoing.

The accident occurred just over 14 feet from the edge of the ski run in an off-piste area.

Schumacher lost control when he hit a rock and ended up smashing his head into a bolder 34 feet further down the mountain.

But his family still “ strongly believe” he will recover.

Earlier this month they said it was not the speed of his recovery but that it progressed in a “continuous and controlled way”

Schumacher receives food through a tube to his stomach, oxygen via a hose from a machine next to his bed as he still cannot breathe independently. Three times daily his joints and muscles are massaged to prevent atrophy and bed sores.

The coma suppressed his swallowing reflex, pain perception and his respiratory drive. He has to be acutely monitored around the clock during this wake-up phase to see if such things are returning naturally - if at all.

His blood is also thinned to prevent thrombosis and he is regularly turned and even stood straight up at times to keep blood flowing. He lies on a special air-filled mattress to prevent pressure sores and his urinary tract is under constant vigilance because of the danger of waste bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing another potentially fatal infection.